Posts Tagged ‘international’

Since 2006 the International exercises organised by IARU Region 1 have concentrated on testing between countries using the emergency centre of activity frequencies defined in the band plans, and passing formal messages across language barriers.
Some countries are very involved in emergencies but have not been able to take full part because of timing or their distance from other countries.

Following the Nepal Earthquake earlier this year, a new test is required to demonstrate that Amateur Radio is able to respond quickly to an emergency. GlobalSET 2015 will take place, but with a focus on our organisation rather than on how easily groups can set up field stations.

We announce that between 12-22nd December, the IARU Regional Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators will trigger a call out exercise in their region. The exact time will depend on the Regional co-ordinators and may not be a weekend as disasters can occur at any time.

We will use whatever means considered appropriate to ask the IARU Member Societies and Groups known to be active in emergency communications to contact their members and ask them how quickly they could get on air if required.
There is a time limit of 24-48 hours to complete their local call out exercise and submit their results through a web form which will make the results far easier to produce than earlier years.

By using a web form it is hoped that any language barriers are removed as online translation tools can be used to convert this into their local language to make it easier to fill in. The web address will be given when the exercise starts and information will be gathered by each region separately.

No one is expected to get on air, so the exercise is independent of any HF propagation problems.

The aims of the exercise are;

To show that we can respond quickly and in a co-ordinated manner. To get groups and societies involved in an event without language, time or propagation barriers.
To update our information about how many radio amateurs around the world are available for emergency communications showing our strength in the hobby.

Some countries have large ( >1500 member ) emergency communications groups, in these cases being able to demonstrate that a significant number of members would be available is a success.

More information will be circulated to National Emergency Communications Co-Ordinators soon.

The Calbuco volcano in the Los Lagos region of Chile erupted for the first time after 54 years of inactivity, forcing the evacuation of an area of 20 kilometers around the volcano. Some 5,000 residents of the area have been evacuated from locations such as Chamisa, Lago Chapo and Route 225.

Marisa Tobella Pinto CE2MT, Director of Emergency Communications, said he advised that 7050 kHz is in use for emergency nets, with the alternative frequencies being 14250 kHz and 3738 kHz.

Winds are pushing the plume of ash towards Argentina where the authorities are also putting emergency arrangements in place and some flights have been cancelled fearing that flying could be dangerous.

The emergency communications provided by hams continues as the devastating Typhoon Hagupit (locally called Ruby) moves slowly across the Philippines.

Thelma Pascua DU1IVT, Philippines Amateur Radio Society (PARA) Chief Operating Officer reports that both 7.095 MHz and 144.740 MHz is in use by the Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) network.

“As Typhoon Hagupit enters its third day ham operators continue to provideessential traffic as the storm progresses through Philippine territory,” she said.

PARA, the IARU member society, has sent requests to the neighbouring ORARI in Indonesia, and JARL in Japan, asking for help to publicise the need for all operators to steer clear of the 40 metre frequency used for emergency traffic.

Thelma DU1IVT said, “A HERO volunteer and RADNET-5 President Ronald Madera DW5NLH from Tacloban advised that the Oras West Elementary School used as evacuation centre in Eastern Samar has collapsed, resulting in injuries to evacuees. A rescue team was despatched and this event was to be covered by a news team.”

At the height of the typhoon there were no HERO volunteers in the provincial capital of Borongan. That shortage resulted in a HERO request via Captain Rick Catungal DV6RCC, an Army Captain managing disaster communications in Capiz, and through the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Metro Manilla.

Gil Lappay 4F2KWT helped in providing contacts with a relay of messages were needed until the request was received.

Confidence that the HERO network could adequately handle all emergency traffic was shown by around 150 stations that checked in.

As the typhoon was on the move, hams reported the weather and any other developments into the emergency net.

The HERO network running basically from 7am and 7pm has 2pm roll calls to know each station’s reception capabilities at differing propagation.

“We are confident that emergency traffic will be adequately serviced,” she said.

At the request of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), radio amateurs set up at the NTC Central Office that identifies as DX1NTC.

The task of manning the station is given to PARA affiliate club ACER (DX1ER). The initial operators include Raul DU1VFS, Mike, DW1VJD and a good CW operator, Conrad, DU1TDG. Helping to keep that team in action with provisions and logistics are Nards DU1LC, Joe, DU1IL and other ACER members.

The NTC regional offices have also set up stations. From NTC Region 3 Alex DU3AL, Bong DU3BS, Ka Diego DU3DYG; Region 6 assisted by the Panay Amateur Radio Club and PARA District 6 Manager Ned DU6NE with the constant monitoring of Bobby DU6BG.

Other stations were reporting local conditions. Nanding DW5OCF on Ormoc City, Southern Leyte; Jay DV7JAY, Sidney DW7EEE and DW7EQN on Cebu; Art DV7DRG at Dumaguete City with the rest of NORAD 7 members; embedded members in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Operations Centre (OpCen), Edmund DV7DTE, Ivan DV7DRP reporting wind conditions in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental – all the way to the Bicol area with DX4CN embedded in the Daet Camarines Norte National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reporting efforts with Lito DU4DF in Naga City.

Ditoy, DW1OZR is reporting from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, on the evacuation efforts in a precautionary measure, prior to the typhoon making landfall in Mindoro.

The typhoon is expected to make a six (6) landfalls before it eventually exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

ACCESS-5 members 4Nelson, DW5MGB and Edgar DV5EST will be going to Borongan Eastern Samar to set up HF communications on 7.095 MHz and VHF. Mario 4F5MM and Jerick 4F5JMS will be going to Catarman, Northern Samar as part of the assessment team from the Office of Civil Defence.

Nathan DU5AOK was able to talk to Mayor Mabalcon of Paranas, Samar earlier in the day and the Mayor said “the presence of many volunteers is very encouraging”.

Lester DV5PO is reporting about Borongan, Eastern Samar. His report will be vital to those awaiting his assessment of the aftermath in his area.

Other hams are embedded in the different disaster and risk reduction operations centres in the different local government units.

Iver DV6ILA and Arnel DV6WAV are manning the Roxas City operations centre. ACCESS-5 is attached with the Office of Civil Defence, Leyte Province. Vie DU5VIE of RADNET-5 at the Tacloban City CDRRMC operations center. Ton, DW1QGG is embedded as operator with the Marinduque authorities. Dulce, DU4UW is attached to disaster communications at the Sorsogon on the Bicol Peninsula at southern tip of Luzon.

More widespread devastation is likely in areas of the Philippines that were hit late last year by Super Typhoon Haiyan, as a new typhoon called Hagupit is over the Pacific Ocean headed for mostly poor communities.

The Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) has activated its Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) network in advance of Super Typhoon Hagupit.

PARA Chief Operating Officer Thelma Pascua said that the HERO network is well-practised and prepared to meet the emergency communication needs caused by the severe weather event.

Below is a message presented by Mr Encho Gospodino, on behalf of European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, dealing with International Co-Operation, Humanitarian Air and Crisis response

Dear IARU Conference participants,
Dear radio messengers in times of trouble and hope
Friends, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure and privilege to address your General Conference. The timing for your gathering could not be more indicative for the world we live in and the challenges we all face today.

The lives of millions of people is impacted by troubling events: conflicts in Africa and the Middle East (and sadly, in Europe); natural disasters all over the world with all the un-predictabilities of the mother Nature and the responsibilities of the human beings for the Climate Change; human waves of migrants and refugees moving from one place to another, and assorted diseases often trailing the disasters and conflicts. In short, this is a world, which does not stop to surprise us every morning when we open the TV screen or a newspaper.

At the same time, the world has never been better connected and wired. Today’s communications are a real miracle once considered a fantasy coming from the novels of Arthur Clarke or Ray Bradbury. Never before, we had this privilege to transmit or exchange information with such accuracy, speed and scope of distribution. And never before so many
people from all corners of the world and all layers of the society had access to this information. The arrival of internet really made our planet a Global village and ever since our live changed forever in the way we deal with information. Politics, diplomacy, journalism, technology, science, research, banking, literally all changed overnight with this powerful instrument.

However, there are moments in life when a good, stable, reliable and independent information tool is the only one we can use to save lives. And this is the one we call simply the RADIO. Imagine a major natural disaster, which knocks down all modern information tools in the affected area: with no electricity, no internet, no telephone and fax connections, not even the old telex machines. No trains and ships moving, no roads to use or airports functioning. Nothing. We know a tragedy has happened, we know many are dead, and even more still alive, but trapped and helpless. And no one can help them as nobody knows what has happened. Because there is no information.

Luckily, there is a last resort: the radio amateurs; the people who are the eyes and the ears of the world in time when all other information channels are silent. “Amateurs” is actually not the right word in this case: these are professional communicators who are listening to the heartbeat of the planet and registering the emotional vibrations of people who may be in danger. In short, you are the last technical miracle, which is independent, reliable information channel, which can transmit an important piece of news from any place in the world, any time, by anyone who knows how to operate this wonderful creature, called radio.

Your advantage is that you are independent. A well-trained radioman with good equipment and ever-charged batteries can be a fantastic link between two villages, two countries or two continents. When organized in a Union, you are a communication superpower in time of total electronic darkness. But the most important part of your equipment is the people you have; the Bravehearts of men and women listening to people who may be in danger and may need help; the professional lifesavers called strangely amateurs, who nevertheless act as volunteers when and where they are needed. In your history, you have many examples of lives being saved because some of your members caught a signal from a village, a region or un-accessible place that someone needs help. We need your skills and services because we will have more and more disasters in the future. The dry statistics reveal troubling trends: during the last 20 – 30 years, the number and the intensity of the natural disasters have increased dramatically. So did the number of people killed or affected. The earthquake in Haiti in 2010 killed 230 000 people alone …. Between 2003 and 2012, some 6700 disasters hit the planet with 2005 being the darkest one – 810 disasters in one year. Typhoons in the Philippines, floods in Pakistan, China or Europe, droughts and famine in Africa, garnished with conflicts, are now almost daily events.

The economic losses from these disasters went up from $ 50 billion to $200 billion a year since the 80s. Every Red Cross volunteer will tell you that during a disaster the most needed and precious live saving element is not food, water or medicines. It is the timely, accurate information that is the most needed. As timely and accurate information saves lives, prevents major tragedies, stops rumours, which create panic and leads to even more casualties. This is how solid information flow becomes the backbone of a successful communication strategy. In short, everything, which you do and helps your societies to organise themselves better, is vital. Local and national authorities count on you as the last bastion of reliable information channel. Your professional skills and your humanitarian duties make you more than radio amateurs; you are truly needed guardians in time of troubles and I hope you will always stay as a pillar of hope and courage for all who are in danger.

Thank you for your noble work. I wish you every success in this Conference.

The rescue and relief efforts after Saturday’s southwest China Ya’an earthquake is continuing with the number of lives lost officially at 188 people, 25 are missing and 11,460 injured.

While radio amateurs continue to help with relief efforts, Fan Bin BA1RB says that public communication is back to normal in the disaster area.

He said the CRSA/CRAC no longer required 3855kHz, 7050kHz and 14270kHz as emergency communication frequencies. It expressed thanks for the support from IARU member societies and others during the disaster.

It rained in the earthquake area last night. Effective traffic control has been very important to transport tents, water, foods and medicines into the area.

The rural communities around Ya’an city are along the same seismic fault where the Great Sichuan Earthquake killed more than 90,000 people five years ago, in one of China’s worst natural disasters.

The latest earthquake on Saturday left tens of thousands of people in tents or cars, unable to return home or too afraid to go back as aftershocks continued.

Badly hit Lushan County is now a large refugee camp, with tents set up and volunteers providing meals.

The earthquake has killed 179 people and injured 6986. Hundreds of amateur radio operators went to Ya’an helping disaster relief.

The disaster happened as the Global Simulated Emergency Test was underway headed in China by station BY3CQ and others – BG8EIU, BG8FCK, BG8DE, BG8FPB, BY8DX, BH8AHU, BA8IK and BG8EBB – who are now either helping on HF, VHF or in the disaster area.

Fan Bin BA1RB contacted this morning Liu Hu BD8AAA who is in the epicentre at Lushan county.

The following updates are available:
1. Public communication is normal in Ya’an and Lushan, the UHF and VHF repeaters work fine to provide effective communication. While in some remote rural areas, the communication is still needed to be established. Amateur Radio teams are actively helping build up the communications.

2. The government has more experiences to organise the disaster relief, amateur radio operators were organised and provided help based on government needs.

3. Because suddenly there are too many vehicles coming into Ya’an city and Lushan county, the transportation traffic condition is severe. There are 8 amateur radio teams, more than 200 amateur radio operators helping local transportation department to relieve traffic congestion.

The request to keep the HF frequencies of 3855kHz, 7050kHz and 14270kHz clear for disaster traffic remains.

The Sichuan amateur radio association took immediate action with BA8DX (not BD8DX as earlier report) and BD8AAA leading a team heading to the disaster area.